Sleigh.



. 110.761,653. PATBNTBD JUNE 7, 1904'.

H.BRYDA. SLEIGH.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 15. 1904.

l0 MODEL.

. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented June 7, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY BRYDA, OF WOONSOCKET, RHODE ISLAND.

SLEIGH.

i SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 761,653, dated June '7, 1904.

Application iled February l5, 1904. Serial No. 193,722. (No model.)

' of the United States, residing at Vloonsocket,L

ance with my invention.

in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sleighs; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descripv tion of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in sleighs.

The object of the invention is to provide a sleigh having means whereby the same may be propelled over the ice or snow.

' A further object is-to provide means whereby the sleigh may be steered or turned in one direction or the other, and also to provide means for quickly stopping the same. n

With `these and other objects in View the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out lin the -appended claims;

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a side view of a sleigh constructed in accord- Fig. 2 is a top plan view, Fig. 3 is a bottom plan View, Fig. 4 is a rear end elevation, and Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View, of the same. Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse sectional view looking toward the rear end of the sled. Fig. 7 is a 'detail view of one of the push-rods. Fig. 8 is a similar view of one of the push-rod brackets or hangers.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 denotes a sleigh, which may be of anysuitable construction, but which is here shown as a flat sled having the usual' runners 2, upon which isv supported a frame consisting of uprights or standards 4, connected at their upper ends by cross-bars 5, whichsupport longitudinally-disposed side rails 6, on which are adapted to rest the upper platform 6 of the sled.

Below the upper platform 6 is arranged a lower platform 7, and to the standards 4 and the edges of the platform 7 are secured side pieces 8, thereby forming a box or body. d rIhe runners and side rails are suitably braced to the standards 4 by brace bars .or rods 9.

To the cross-bars 5 are connected longitudinally-disposed angle-iron beams 10,on which, near the rear end of the sled, are secured bearings 12, in which are mounted a transverselydisposed crank-shaft 13, having fixed thereon a sprocket-wheel 14 and a iiy-wheel 15.` A sprocket-chain I6 connects the sprocket-wheel 14'with the sprocket-wheel of an engine 17, arranged in the forward end of the machine.

On the ends of the shaft 13 are fixed oppositely-disposed crank-arms18, to which are connected pitman-rods 19, the opposite ends of which are connected to cross-heads 20, which are slidably mounted in guides'21, Ysecured to the beams 10. To the cross-heads 2O are also would exert but little propelling power on the sled. The coiled springs 25 will allow the plates 23 to give slightly when'they engage the snow on the outward thrust of the pushbars, 4but upoxrtlie reverse movement of vthe rodswill force the plates outwardly against the stop-pin 24, which will jar the snow that may have stuck to the plates off from the same, thereby preventing them from becoming clogged up. A

The push-bars 22 are connected to'fone end of coil-spring 27, the opposite ends of'which are connected to theV sides of Ithe sled, said springs being adapted to aid in retracting the ypush-bars.V Said push-bars areformed in two sections and are jointed about midway their length to permit the outer section of either to be swung in laterally toward the center of the sled, which will cause the sled to be turned in IOO by reason of the fact that this bar is now shorter than the one on the other side and also engages the ground near the center of the sled, and therefore does not offer any resistance to the bar on the opposite side, thus permitting the same to push the head of the sled round in a circle.

In order to swing the ends of the push-bars inwardly to turn or steer the sled when desired, a suitable controlling mechanism is pro'- vided, which consists of a longitudinally-disposed rock-shaft 28, journaled in the frame of the sled. On the forward end of the rockshaft is fixed an upwardly-projecting handle or lever 29, and to the rear end of the shaft is connected a cross bar or head 30, to the ends of which are pivotally7 connected verticallydisposed link-rods 31, in the lower ends of which are formed elongated slots 32. In said slots are disposed the free ends of brackets or hangers 33, which are pivotally connected to rocked by the link-rods 3l to swing the lower end of one or the other of the push-bars inwardly.

The slotted connection ofthe link-rods with the free ends of the brackets or hangers will permit one of said link-rods to lower without engaging said end of the adjacent bracket while the opposite link-rod is raising and rocking the bracket adjacent thereto to cause the end of the push-rod on this side of the sled to swing inwardly. Coiled springs 35 are connected to the side of the hangers 33 and to the side of the sled-frame, whereby said hangers will be quickly swung back to restore the parts to their normal position when the lever 29 on the rock-shaft 28 is released.

On the under side of the lower platform 7 is arranged a brake mechanism consisting of a pair of arms or levers 36, connected at their upper ends to a cross-bar 37, rotatably mounted in bearings on the under side of the lower platform 7. The arms or levers 36 are also connected together by a centrally-disposed cross-bar 33, to which is connected an upwardly and forwardly curved lever 39, which extends above the upper platform and forms a handle whereby the arms or levers 36 may be turned down to engage the lower ends of the same with the ice or snow to form a brake to slacken the speed or to entirely stop the sled. ACoiled springs 40 are connected to the arms br levers`36 and to the bottom of the platform 7, by which said arms are raised and normally held up against said platform when the lever or handle 39 is released.

The lower ends of the arms or levers 36 are curved downwardly and attened to form blades, which are adapted to engage the ice or snow.. At a suitable point on the sled is arranged a gasolene-tank from which gasolene is supplied to the engine.

rlhe runners of the sled are provided with the usual shoes,which are sharpened after the manner of a skate-runner to keep the sled in a straight course except when being turned by the steering mechanism.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacriiicing any of the :ulvantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. lnasleigh of the characterdescribed, the combination with the runners having a snitable supporting-frame mounted thereon, of a propelling mechanism supported by said frame, said mechanism comprising a suitablymounted crank-shaft, means for driving the same, cranks fixed on the ends of said shaft, pitman-rods connected to said cranks, slidablymounted cross-heads connected to the ends o f said pitman-rods, push-rods connected to said cross-heads and adapted to be recipreeated by the same, means whereby said push-bars may be manipulated to steer said sled, and a brake mechanism carried by the same, substantially as described.

2. 1n asleigh ofthe character described, the combination with the runners having a suitable supporting-'frame mounted thereon, o f a propelling mechanism supported by said frame, said mechanism comprising a suitablymounted crank-shaft, means for driving the same, cranks iixed on the ends of said shaft, pitman-rods connected to said cranks, sl idablymounted cross-heads connected to the ends of said pitman-rods, jointed push-rods connected to said cross-heads and adapted to be reciproeated by the same, pivoted brackets or hangers to support said push-bars, means for rocking said brackets or hangers inwardly to swing the outer ends of said push-bars in toward the center of said sled to turn the same, and means for restoring said parts to their normal positions, substantially as described.

3. In asleigh of the character described, the combination with the runners having a snitable supporting-frame mounted thereon, of a propelling mechanism supported by said frame, said mechanism comprising a suitablymounted crank-shaft, means for driving the same, cranks iixed on the ends of said shaft, pitman-rods connected to said cranks, slidablymounted cross-heads connected to the ends of said pitman-rods, push-rods connected to said cross-heads and adapted to be reci proeated by the same, snowsengaging plates carried by said IlO push-bars, and means whereby the same are 'prevented from becoming clogged with snow,

substantially as described.

4. In asleigh of the characterl described, the combination with the runners having a suitable supporting-frame mounted thereon, of a propelling mechanism supported by said frame,said mechanism comprising a suitablymounted crank-shaft, means for driving the same, cranks Xed on the ends of said shaft, pitman-rods connected to said cranks,slidablymounted cross-heads connected to the ends of said pitman-rods, jointed push-rods connected to said cross-heads, and adapted to be reciprocated by the same, means for swinging the lower ends of said push-bars inwardly toward the center'of said sled to turn the same in one direction or the other, and spring-controlled snow-engaging plates arranged near the outer ends of said push-rods, substantially as described.

5. In a sleigh of the character described, the combinationwith the runners having a suitable supporting-frame mounted thereon, of a propelling mechanism supported by said frame, said mechanism comprising a suitablymounted crank-shaft, means for driving the same, cranks iiXed on the ends of said shaft, pitman-rods connected to said cranks, slidablymounted cross-heads connected to the ends of said pitman-rods, jointed push-rods connected to said cross-heads and adapted to be reciprocated by the'same, pivoted brackets or hangers to supportsaid push-bars, a longitudinally-disposed rock-shaft journaled in saidnormal positions, substantially' as described.

6. In asleigh of the character described, the combination with the runners having a suitable supporting-frame mounted thereon, of a propelling mechanism supported by said frame, said mechanism comprising a suitablymounted crank-shaft, means for driving the same, cranks fixed on the ends of said shaft, pitman-rods connected to said cranks, slidablymounted cross-heads connected to the ends of said pitman-rods, jointed push-rods connected to said cross-heads and adapted tok be reciprocated by the same, pivoted brackets or hangers to support said push-bars, means for rocking said brackets or hangers inwardly to swing the outer ends of said push-bars in toward the center of said sled to turn the same, and means for restoring said parts to their normal positions, brake arms or levers pivotally connected to the frame of said sled, means whereby said arms are normally held up from engagement with the ice or snow and means for forcing the same down into engagement with the same to stop said sled, substantially as described.

7 In asleigh of the character described, the combination with the runners having a suitable supporting-frame mounted thereon, ol a propelling mechanism supported -by said frame, saidfmechanism comprising a suitablymounted crank-shaft, means for driving the same, cranks fixed on the ends of said shaft,

`pitman-rods connected to said cranks, slidablymounted cross-heads connected to the ends of said pitman-rods, jointed push-rods connected to said cross-heads and adapted to lbe rccip rocated by the same, pivoted brackets or hangers to support said push-bars, means for rocking said brackets or hangers inwardly to swing the outer ends of said push-bars in toward the center of said sled .to turn the same, and means for restoring said parts to their normal positions, brake-arms connected by an upper cross-bar, and hingedly connected to said sled-frame, springs to retract and normally hold said arms up, and an operating lever or handle connected to said arms, whereby the same may be turned down into engagement with the snow or ice to stop said sled, substantially as described.

ssV

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set l. my hand in presence of two subscribing w1tnesses.

HENRY BRYDA. Witnesses:

JOHN J..YHEFFERNAN,

WILLIAM LANDRY. 

